Disclaimer: chibi-onna: *looks to the left* *looks to the right* Good... no Takehiko Inoue and lawyers around. "SD IS MINE!" *waits* "MWAHAHAHAHA!!!! I GOT AWAY WITH IT! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

A/N: Hallowie!!! I'm back! Mwahahahaha!!! *rubs hands together* This chapter has lots of fun in it! Anyway, thanks again for the reviews... I LOVE YOU ALL!!! I wasn't expecting that people would like the previous chapter as much as they did... Arigatou, minna!!! I hope this will reach up to your expectations... Oh, I almost forgot...

TO NAKKIE-SAN: please send me your email address so I can answer your questions adequately... thanks for taking the time to review my work! I really appreciate it.. *beams* =D

Legend:

~place/time/flashback~
"dialogue"
//thoughts//
inserts
*sigh or something like it*
/*stuff outside the fic*/


Chapter7: Unwanted Company


~in one of the guest rooms~


Clothes strewn everywhere ruined the otherwise immaculate appearance of the room. This was what Kogure Kiminobu first noticed as he sat up on the bed. He did this with utmost care so as not to disturb his koi's sleep while the latter snuggled against him. Kogure smiled and put an arm around Mitsui.

The three-pointer slowly opened his eyes. "Ohayou, Min-kun.."

"Ohayou, Sashi-kun." The greeting was accompanied with a smile. "Did you have a good night's sleep?"

Mitsui looked up at his lover, snuggled closer and said, "Of course I did. You were there to hug me, weren't you?"

"Who would've thought that you can be so sweet?" Kogure poked Mitsui's nose playfully.

"And who would've thought that you can be that good in bed?" Mitsui countered.

"I'm glad you appreciate my better talents..."

"Wait a sec, I think I forgot... Which talent was that again?"

"Will you let me help you remember?"

"Yes, please..."

The vice-captain captured Mitsui's lips in a sweet kiss, which was turning more and more passionate as seconds ticked by. When they broke for air, they were both breathing slightly heavier. The sweet and innocent angel was gone, and this aggressive and lustful devil took its place.

"Are you starting to remember?" Kogure asked.

Mitsui wrinkled his nose. "I... no. Still blurry..."

"Then how about this.... and this... and this..." Kogure was trailing butterfly kisses all over Mitsui's body. A nip here, a lick there, you know: the works. All was pg-13 until there came a sharp intake of air.

/*chibi-onna: *stares hard at computer screen* Did I just write that?!*/

//What a way to start the day...// Mitsui thought.


~at breakfast~


Soon, everyone was present for breakfast. Apparently, they already took their baths and were smelling really good. Everybody was in a fairly good mood, especially Mitsui.

/*chibi-onna: I wonder why.... hehehe...*/

They proceeded to eating the simple yet scrumptuous meal presented before them. French croissants and an assortment of fruits including kiwis, strawberries, apples, mangoes, oranges, and many others. They each had a glass of passion fruit juice and another glass filled with water. Talk about a healthy lifestyle...

"So," Ayako started as soon as everyone was at the table, "What do you guys intend to do?"

"Let's go to a museum! I hear they have found new artifacts and stuff!"

"Kogure.... too much studying can cloud your brain over..."

"Yeah, let's just go sight-seeing..."

"But the tensai needs new basketball shoes! It's all your fault they got ruined, Ryocchin!!!"

"Hey! Was not!"

"Was too! You drooled all over it!"

"Was not." Ryota was not going to be defeated, even if he was already redder than an embarrassed ripe tomato.

"WAS TOO!!!" But then again, so was Sakuragi.

"COULD YOU KEEP IT DOWN????!!!!!!!"

Everyone turned to look at the owner of the unusually loud voice. The people gasped.

"Maa, maa, Kogure..." Mitsui tried to calm the usually calm person.

Regaining his senses, Kogure sat down. He did not realize that he had stood up.

"Ah... hehe... Gomen nasai, minna-san.. I was having a headache... The echoes, you know... They amplify your--er--sounds..."

They all looked at each other. They hoped they would never catch the vice-captain with a headache again...

/*chibi-onna:headache? probably because loss of blood blame it on the constant nosebleed before joining Mitsui in the shower...*/

Ayako cleared her throat. "I guess we should just do all of those things you suggested, ne?"

"Fair enough," Akagi agreed.

And so they proceeded to the National Museum, as soon as they finished breakfast and much to Kogure's delight. He was the only one who actually listened to their guide who was droning on and on about this and that, which made no sense whatsoever to the others.

"Who cares about some stupid clay pot, anyway?" Ryota muttered to himself.

"People with a much higher brain caliber than yours, I'm sure..." Mitsui whispered as-a-matter-of-factly to Miyagi.

"Hey! What do you mean by that?!" the point guard tried to keep his voice low.

"Exactly what I meant by it," came Mitsui's answer, dripping with venom in a tone of finality.

"Ch'.. whatever!" Ryota stomped away from the former MVP.

"That'll show him how to insult my Min-kun..." Mitsui snickered.

After about an hour, the Shohoku people came out of the museum sleeping. Maybe the sleep-walking thing was really contagious. Heck, it would be Rukawa's fault, if ever. All were caught up in their own dream escapades, except for one. The civilized part of Kogure was the only thing holding him back from jumping around, glomping everything in sight. He was overly happy. New knowledge was bestowed upon him...

Soon after waking up, they were at a mall, window-shopping and buying stuff for souvenirs as they went. Sakuragi spotted a nice-looking sports shop, and convinced his companions to go there. Who could resist the ol' gangster 'charm', anyway? They've never understood nor appreciated the finer arts of bullying, even if they gave in.

The tinkle of the small bell at the door announced their entrance. A great collection of sports merchandise welcomed them.

"Wow...." Ryota breathed.

Mitsui whistled.

Hanamichi laughed. "Nyahahahaha!!! I told you it was a good shop!! Nyahahahaha!!!!" He proceeded to look at the display of basketball shoes near one of the walls.

Rukawa was a few meters behind Sakuragi, and was being as normal as possible: meaning, he won't say anything other than, "...."

Everybody else was looking at the other products that caught their attention. They didn't notice the tinkle of the little bell as well as the light gasp of the person who had just arrived.

"O hisashiburi desu," a smooth voice floated across the store.

/*Note: O hisashiburi desu = "long time no see", or literally, "it's been a long time"*/

The Shohoku Basketball club turned to stare at the owner of the familiar voice.

"Oi, baka smiley!!! What the hell are you doing here?!!" Hanamichi turned chibi and looked at him suspiciously. "You're spying on the tensai, aren't you?"

The newcomer sweatdropped. "Of course not, Sakuragi-kun! I was surprised, myself, when I saw you guys here."

Still unconvinced, Sakuragi prodded him, "Then why are you here?"

"Anou, my dad's on a business trip and he asked me to tag along... It was so boring at home that I agreed," he explained, advancing in the redhead's direction. He went past him and settled beside the stand holding the hockey sticks upright.

"Humph!" Sakuragi huffed. His line of sight registered a better display of basketball shoes, past the person he just 'humphed' at.

The spikey-haired basketball player noticed the shift of attention and made a quick course of action. As Hanamichi tried to pass by, he leaned rather forcefully on one of the hockey sticks such that it slid to the floor: instantly becoming a minor obstacle. Our tensai didn't notice this, of course; so naturally, he tripped. With a sly smile, the schemer caught Hanamichi in a hug just in time before he completely kissed the floor.

During the brief hug, two pairs of blue eyes clashed. The owner of one pair smirked challengingly as he saw the obvious loathing in the other's usually blank face.

As if the staring game never happened, the cheerful Ryonan player said, "Daijoubu desu ka, Sakuragi-kun?" with pure concern, false innocence taking over.

"I'm okay. Thanks, smiley," Hanamichi said almost automatically and went to the display shelf that was his earlier destination.

The smiley smiled. //At least he dropped the 'baka'... It's a good start...//

"Sendoh," was the supposed greeting of the Shohoku ace. Only, it was dripping with more poison than usual.

"Rukawa," Sendoh answered. Almost immediately, they enggaged in another staring game. It the staring game lasted for a few good minutes, and it seemed as if the players were talking telepathically.

//What the hell was that all about?! Hana is mine!! Got it? Mine!// Rukawa was the first to think.

//Hn. Nobody can own him but me.//

//You have no right. I saw him first.//

//That doesn't mean he's yours.//

//....//

//I will win him over; that's for sure.//

//Not if I can help it.//

//You don't stand a chance with the way you're treating him...//

//You know nothing.//

//I won't lose to you.//

//I DEFINITELY won't lose to you.// Rukawa had the last thought.

A mobile phone rang. Sendoh answered it. "Yeah? Oh, dad! I'm sorry... Yeah... I'm at the mall already... Okay... I'll be there in five minutes.... Okay... Bye.." And with that, he hung up. He spoke again, "Hey guys, I gotta go or my dad's gonna be pissed.." He never broke the stare throughout the whole event. He turned and walked away. "I hope to see you guys around.." and a wave were his farewell to them.

Rukawa clenched a fist at his side. "Oi, Do'aho! Hurry up." His previously good mood was completely destroyed. //How dare his hentai hands touch my Hana... And why didn't you get mad, Do'aho?//

"Temee, baka kitsune! The tensai still hasn't found the right ones... They have to be perfect, you know..."

The fox sighed, scanned the racks of shoes, picked a pair, and shoved them to the monkey's hands.

Hanamichi looked at the shoes with great scrutiny and finally said, "Where'd you get this? Why didn't I see this before?" Hanamichi fitted them. It was just the right size.

Of course, Rukawa had excellent taste. The pair was similar to the ruined ones in terms of color: red and black. But the design was different. It was more... well, let's just say that it becomes Sakuragi Hanamichi.

"Let's just get this over and done with," Rukawa said.

Sakuragi proceeded to the counter where the owner of the shop who had a striking resemblance to the guy who sold Hanamichi his previous shoes was cleaning sports equipment. "May I help you?"

"Yes. I would like to purchase these shoes. How much?" Sakuragi asked, using his intimidating appearance as he did before. It always worked for him, so why stop now?

However, it wasn't going to work this time. The owner was about to give the redhead a piece of his mind, but was stopped by a flash of gold behind the idiot in front of him. His eyes caught sight of a credit card and its holder had a look that said, "Expose the fact that I'll pay, and you're dead." That was all he needed, and played along with Sakuragi.

"Um, ff-for you, ss-sir, it's free!! Yeah, that's right! You are our lucky customer! The first to benefit from our promotional thingy!"

"That's great, Sakuragi-kun! You're so lucky!" Haruko beamed up at him.

"Nyahahahahaha!! Of course, Haruko-san! I'm a tensai, remember?" still blushing, Sakuragi replied.

Rukawa scowled at the girl. //As if Sendoh was not enough...//

As soon as the shoes were bagged, the team made for the door. Rukawa caught up with Akagi.

"Captain," Akagi looked at him, "could you go ahead and wait for me at the fountains which were at the center of the mall, a few good blocks from the sports shop? I have something very important to attend to..."

Akagi nodded and they proceeded to their mall tour. Rukawa went back to the counter and gave the man his credit card. He signed the transaction slip and got the receipt. As Rukawa was handed his card back, the man said to him, "It was a pleasure doing business with you, sir..."

Rukawa didn't answer him. He just walked away and proceeded to the fountains.


A/N: What a coincidence! Sendoh appeared in the 7th chapter! Wai! Gomen for the Sendoh-bashing, I myself love him, but a writer's gotta do what a writer's gotta do... So, tell me what you think... Please, r&r!